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Surgical overreduction and hyperlordotic fusion of C1–C2 joint are associated with cervical sagittal malalignment

  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Previous studies have shown that hyperlordotic C1–C2 fusion was related to postoperative subaxial kyphosis. However, most of the patients in these studies were complicated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Moreover, no studies have specifically evaluated the relationship between C1–C2 fusion angle and cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA), T1 slope or cranial tilt (CRT) after posterior C1–C2 fusion. This study aimed to investigate the cervical sagittal alignment in non-RA patients following posterior C1–C2 fusion and the correlation between C1–C2 fusion angle and postoperative cervical sagittal alignment.

Materials and methods

From August 2004 to December 2015, twenty-eight consecutive patients with an average age of 39.2 years (range 6–70 years) who underwent posterior C1–C2 fusion from a single institution were enrolled. The mean follow-up period was 30.7 months (range 12–77 months). Angles of Oc–C1, C1–C2, C2–C3 and C2–C7, cSVA, T1 slope and CRT were measured in lateral cervical radiographs in neutral position before surgery and at the final follow-up.

Results

C1–C2 angle significantly increased from 13.6° ± 12.4° to 22.0° ± 8.1° at the final follow-up (P < 0.001). A significant decrease was found both in Oc–C1 and C2–C7 angles from pre-operation to the final follow-up (P < 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). Moreover, cSVA and CRT dramatically increased from pre-operation to the final follow-up (P < 0.001). C1–C2 fusion angle was significantly associated with Oc–C1, C2–C7 angle, cSVA and CRT at the final follow-up. A significant correlation was also observed between postoperative change of C1–C2 angle and that of Oc–C1, C2–C7 angle, cSVA and CRT.

Conclusions

Apart from decreased subaxial lordosis, posterior C1–C2 fusion in hyperextension may also lead to kyphotic change of atlanto-occipital alignment and increased tilting forward of the cervical spine. Therefore, intraoperative overreduction of C1–C2 angle and hyperlordotic C1–C2 fusion should be avoided to maintain the physiologic cervical sagittal alignment.

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Acknowledgements

One of the authors (Bang-ping Qian) has received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81372009) and Jiangsu Provincial Medical Talent Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Spine Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Zhongshan Road 321, Nanjing, 210008, China

    Ji-chen Huang, Bang-ping Qian, Yong Qiu & Yang Yu

  2. Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, China

    Ji-chen Huang

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China

    Hong-bin Ni

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  1. Ji-chen Huang
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  2. Bang-ping Qian
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  3. Yong Qiu
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  4. Yang Yu
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Correspondence to Bang-ping Qian.

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Conflict of interest

Ji-chen Huang, Bang-ping Qian, Yong Qiu, Yang Yu, and Hong-bin Ni declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Huang, Jc., Qian, Bp., Qiu, Y. et al. Surgical overreduction and hyperlordotic fusion of C1–C2 joint are associated with cervical sagittal malalignment. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 137, 1631–1639 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2814-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2814-8

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